Md. man gets 65 years for murder

November 5, 2013

MARTINSBURG - One of two Maryland men convicted of murdering a Falling Waters woman during a home invasion robbery was sentenced Monday to 15 years to life plus 50 years in prison.

Roy L. Wisotzkey, 36, of Hagerstown, was found guilty Aug. 7 of felony murder, first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary following a jury trial in Berkeley County Circuit Court in connection with the May 27, 2011, slaying of 57-year-old Vickie Clem.

Clem was stabbed and beaten to death inside her home. Her husband, Jack, was stabbed in the groin, but survived.

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"There's something I want you know. My last memory of my wife ... was when you picked up a baseball bat and split her skull 14 inches from my face," Clem's husband told Wisotzkey at Monday's sentencing hearing.

West Virginia 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge Christopher Wilkes sentenced Wisotzkey to life in prison on the felony murder conviction, 50 years in prison on the first-degree robbery conviction, one to five years in prison on the conspiracy conviction and and one to 15 years in prison on the burglary conviction.

The jury attached a recommendation of mercy to Wisotzkey's felony murder conviction, meaning that he will be eligible for - but not entitled to - parole after serving a minimum of 15 years in prison on the life sentence handed down Monday.

Wilkes ordered that Wisotzkey's 50-year prison sentence for the robbery conviction be served consecutive to his life sentence. The sentences for the remaining two convictions were ordered to run concurrent.

"Any sentence less than this would not adequately punish, deter or show the actual heinousness of this crime," Wilkes said.

Prior to sentencing, the court heard victim impact statements from Clem's family members.

Clem's husband testified at Wisotzkey's trial that he could hear his wife being beaten to death while he begged for her assailants to spare her life.

While the jury attached a recommendation of mercy to Wisotzkey's verdict, Clem's husband said he believed the man didn't deserve any.

"You have no concern for human life. You are a monster," Clem's husband said.

Clem's niece, Ashley Taylor, told the court that her aunt was a wonderful and caring woman who was the heart and soul of her family.

"I hope you suffer every single day like I do. You should never be shown any mercy. You did not show her any mercy," Taylor said.

Clem's daughter, Terri Shoemaker, said she tries to think of the good times she had with her mother, but said that she constantly has nightmares that cause her to wake up in a cold sweat. She also said she is haunted by photographs of her mother's injuries from her autopsy.

"My dreams don't allow me to think of the good times. I imagine her last moments, and I wake up screaming ... Please let his monster be sentenced to the maximum sentence allowable by law," Shoemaker said.

Wisotzkey chose not to address the court and instead relied on a written statement he gave probation officers that is contained in a presentence investigation report. Wisotzkey's attorney, Christopher Prezioso, asked the court to consider sentencing his client to concurrent sentences. He said his client is an intelligent man with a deep interest in physics whose life never reached its full potential because of substance abuse.

"If he had not ruined his life with drugs and alcohol, he absolutely would not be sitting here today," Prezioso said.

"I think a harsh sentence is justified and required by law," Wilkes said.

The second man charged in the case, Joshua L. Stitley, 35, of Hancock, pleaded guilty Oct. 21 to charges of felony murder, first-degree robbery, attempted first-degree murder and malicious assault after accepting a plea agreement. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 13.